Gourmet Trips

First Meal of the Day

by live2makan
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Many experts say this is the most important meal of the day. I am no expert, but I do enjoy it sometimes – if I can get up on time.

Lisbon – Café Janis

A lush green tree canopy with vibrant leaves, partially obscuring a street sign in a sunny urban environment.
Terrace with an overgrown vine. providing shade from the morning sun

I woke up early to go to the nearby Time Out Market, and after getting my suckling pig (Leitão da Bairrada) fix, I needed a place for my morning cuppa. Café Janis, which does an Aussie inspired menu and serves fresh, healthy breakfast, caught my eyes with its interesting foyer.

Statue commemorating General Marquez with multiple figures, surrounded by trees and clear blue sky.
Interior of a busy café with hanging plants and warm lighting, featuring customers seated at wooden tables.
A close-up of a blue coffee cup on a small plate, with a glass of orange juice to the right, set on a table outdoors under a clear blue sky and surrounded by green trees.
A serving of curry with yogurt, green sauce, and pickled onions, garnished with fresh herbs, accompanied by slices of flatbread.

I had the Shashuka, which was perfectly made with runny eggs and wonderful drizzles of herbs and oils.

A vibrant yellow building featuring outdoor dining and signs for Asian street food and a restaurant named Janis, with pedestrians walking by on a sunny day.

The staff was super friendly and the atmosphere really pleasant.

Café Janis
Rua Da Moeda, 1A, Lisbon 1200-275 Portugal

London – Glamarama Green

Entrance of a cozy café with plants visible inside, framed by large glass doors and pink walls.
Glamarama Green near the V&A Museum

Glamarama Green is a playful nod to the glamorous Tamarama beach in Sydney and the fashion and design treasures of the nearby Victoria & Albert Museum. As part of The Daisy Green Collection, it brings relaxed and buzzing Australian food and coffee culture to London.

A blue cup of espresso on a matching saucer with a silver spoon beside it, next to a jar of brown sugar.
Aussie Long Black in London

The coffee was the best one I had in London, the Long Black reminded me of the ones I had in Melbourne – robust, strong and a tinge of acidity. It was so good, I had two cups before leaving for V&A.

A plate featuring a variety of breakfast items including black toast, poached eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, and a portion of baked beans in a side bowl. There is also an avocado half with a spicy dip and a garnish of chives.
The Bondi breakfast platter
A close-up of a plate featuring an avocado half with a runny yolk, black bread, poached eggs, fresh greens, and a dollop of spicy sauce.
Close-up of a bowl of beans cooked in a rich tomato sauce, garnished with herbs.
Sliced grilled bread served on a plate with a small butter packet.

As I intended to spend the maximum amount of time in the museum, I decided to have a big breakfast and skipped lunch. The Bondi (named after the famous Sydney beach) has back bacon, poached eggs, chilli & fennel sausage, mushrooms, half an avocado, and 2 thin slices of charcoal sourdough. I ordered a side of baked beans, which is not from can of Heinz but stewed in house, and a serving of sourdough toast. What was special was the dollop of harissa paste that provided some heat to the mix.

A neatly arranged bar shelf displaying various bottles of spirits and wines, illuminated by warm lights, set against a neutral wall.
Happy hour bar, with a nice evening menu

Glamarama Green
10-12 Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2HF
Tel : 020 3822 0337

San Jose – Eataly

A display of assorted pastries and desserts in a pastry shop, featuring various cakes, cream-filled buns, and chocolates, with price tags visible.
A display case filled with various pastries and desserts, including chocolate-covered treats, cream-filled cakes, and fruit-topped sweets, with price tags visible.
A display of various pastries and cakes decorated with fruits and cream, showcasing colorful layers and textures.
A display of various pastries including cornetti, croissants, and sweet bread, each labeled with their names and prices.
A variety of sandwiches arranged neatly on a wooden surface, showcasing different ingredients like meats, vegetables, and sauces.
Display of assorted sandwiches and pastries in a glass case, including salmon sandwiches and croissants.

When it comes to extravagance, nobody beats the Americans, even when they are appropriating another culture. Eataly is a large Italian marketplace with restaurants, grocery, cooking classes, and food counters, founded in 2004 by Oscar Farinetti to promote high-quality Italian food.

An assortment of pizzas displayed on a wooden board, featuring varieties like mushrooms, potatoes with onion, and classic margherita topped with basil.
A display of three types of artisanal pizza: the first topped with prosciutto, burrata, and basil, the second featuring broccoli rabe and sausage, and the third with pepperoni, all served on wooden boards.
A display of Italian focaccia bread topped with various ingredients, including prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and chives, with price labels underneath each item.

Besides pastries and sandwiches, they also offer high-quality Roman-style pizza by the slice made from a variety of staple and seasonal ingredients. And like Jamie Oliver on Caribbean Cruises, they have recently opened on MSC World cruises too. But we came here for a cup of coffee and a morning bite.

A golden, flaky croissant on a white plate resting on a wooden surface.
Chocolate croissant
A freshly baked croissant topped with a dollop of butter and dusted with powdered sugar, placed on a white plate on a wooden table.
A close-up of a flaky pastry filled with creamy custard, dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate.

The coffee wasn’t fantastic. That’s why you are not seeing any photo of the coffee. The bakery was quite good though.

Eataly at Westfield Valley Fair
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd. San Jose, California 95050

Taipei – SipSip Bar & Restaurant

A busy café interior featuring multiple patrons seated at tables, a barista preparing drinks behind a stylish counter, and a modern decor with curved elements and large windows.
Industrial chic, beautiful people

Nestled within Taipei’s iconic Huashan 1914 Creative Park is SipSip Bar & Restaurant. In 1914, the Japanese established a sake factory in Huashan. When the factory closed down and the historical area was transformed to a Creative Park, the factory has been transformed into the crisp and clean tones of white with the bold industrial look of metal.

A close-up of a white cup filled with iced tea, featuring ice cubes and a dark brown liquid.
A clear glass filled with layered green drink and frothy top next to a white cup with the text 'SIP SIP' on it.
A breakfast plate featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash brown, slices of avocado, and glazed donuts.
Huashan Big Breakfast

Princess and I came and had a late breakfast (brunch) and shared a portion of their signature Huashan Big Breakfast. It was quite generous portion with lots of top quality ingredients, although most of it were prefab in a food factory.

Close-up of cooked meatballs glistening with glaze, served alongside scrambled eggs and slices of avocado.
sugar cinnamon brioche
A plate of assorted cooked meats including crispy bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs.
apple wood smoked bacon
A crispy, golden hash brown on a plate, accompanied by breakfast sausages and eggs.
hash browns
Close-up of fluffy scrambled eggs topped with chopped chives, served on a plate with other breakfast items.
scrambled eggs
A close-up image of a dish featuring sliced avocado topped with thinly sliced radishes, presented on a white plate.
smashed avocado

SipSip Bar & Restaurant
Huashan 1914 Creative Park 1F-1, 中四D館, No. 一號, Section 1, Bade Rd, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100 臺北市八德路一段1號 華山文創園區中四D館1F-1

Kyoto – Ryokan Breakfast

A traditional Japanese room featuring tatami flooring, a futon on the floor, sliding shoji doors, and minimalist wooden furnishings.
Traditional Ryokan in Kyoto

After a terrible night on the futon, I looked forward to the famous breakfast in a tradition Japanese Ryokan. Usually, a stay at the ryokan will include a set breakfast 定食 that reflects the importance of the first meal of the day for the Japanese.

A traditional Japanese breakfast featuring a soft-boiled egg in a dark bowl, grilled fish, and a small dish of vegetable salad with a side of soup.
Grilled mackerel, onsen egg, and two sides
A bowl containing slices of melon in syrup, accompanied by a small plate of green vegetables, a piece of yellow food, and an orange dessert. A glass of yellow juice is also present.
Pickled vegetables (tsukemono),

A typical Japanese breakfast is a balanced, savoury meal centred around steamed rice, served with miso soup, a main protein like grilled fish (usually salmon or mackerel) and egg (tamagoyaki or onsen egg), and several small sides, pickled vegetables (tsukemono), and, if you like it, fermented soybeans (natto), following the ichiju sansai 一汁三菜 (one soup, three dishes) concept for a nutritious start.  

A ceramic pot sitting on a portable stove, with a clear glass of orange juice and a small bowl of soy sauce nearby.
A bowl of soup with meatballs, vegetables, and clear broth, served in a traditional Japanese-style pot.
MIso nabe with meatballs and vegetables

Because we were staying in a Japanese inn over the weekend, the breakfast included a nabe (hotpot) dish that included meatballs with cabbage simmered in miso soup. It was so good that I forgot to take photo of the rice!

Kyoto Ryokan Kinoe 純和風料理旅館 き乃ゑ
44-8 Bishamoncho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0812, Japan

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